Breakout Box

Look for stories on new sheriff’s deputies, Tackett Wilson and Mikey Ashurst, in upcoming issues

Frith joins Knox sheriff’s department

By Emily Baker

For the Mountain Advocate

Knox County Sheriff’s Department welcomes Deputy Carl R. Frith to the team. A Bell County native, Deputy Frith describes himself as “hardworking, friendly and respectful.”

Deputy Frith is no stranger to Barbourville. While is father, the late Jimmy R. Frith, was from Pineville, his mother, Linda “Sissy” Cox Barnett, is from nearby Gray. She later married Bobby Hammons, a Barbourville native.

Deputy Frith is delighted to be in Knox County.

“It’s a busy county,” said Frith, “but I enjoy it because I get to meet so many new people.”

Frith is a self-proclaimed “people person.” This, he says, the whole reason he chose this career.

“I love working with the community,” he said. “I love working with people and doing whatever I can to help them.”

Deputy Frith began his career in 2000 as a corrections officer at the Kentucky State Reformatory Prison in La Grange until 2003, but that was just the beginning. From there, he landed a job at Pine Mountain State Park as a Park Ranger. While working at Pine Mountain, Frith graduated from the Police Academy through the Department of Criminal Justice Training in Richmond. In 2004, he joined the Bell County Sheriff’s Department, where he remained until December 2014.

Frith speaks fondly of his time with Bell Co. Sheriff’s Department, “Bruce (Bennett), the sheriff in Bell Co., was like family, but now Mike (Smith) has welcomed me into this new family.”

Deputy Frith is looking forward to a long career with Knox County law enforcement and with Sheriff Mike Smith, saying “I like the way Mike runs the department. He wants friendly deputies out helping the community, and that’s what I like. It feels like home.”

Deputy Frith and his wife, Lisa have two daughters, Alex Frith, 22, and Gabby Frith, 14, and a son, Tyler Shell, 22.